Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, February 24, 2020
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
A N N O U N C E M E N T
Extra!! Extra!! Get your tickets right here… https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brothers-together-concert-aaron-shust-joshua-aaron-tickets-81958109913?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse. This is concert week. Friday night, this is where you want to be. https://www.google.com/maps/place/8000+Middlebrook+Pike,+Knoxville,+TN+37909/@35.9417673,-84.0541812,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x885c24d326304b6b:0x3386432490432bbf!8m2!3d35.941763!4d-84.0519925 PS – I will be on the Bob Bell Show (AM620 WRJZ wrjz.com Joy620) this Monday morning at 7:30 to promote the worship concert. End Announcement.
Pillar Seven: The Kingdom is Expressed in a Quest for Unity – part 6
I feel this will be just a quick comment on the quest for unity. While I want to write about unity, I’m not going to start with unity. I’m going to start with love. John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Why should the world have to crawl over the bodies of believers to find the One in whom they believe? Our love for one another is expressed in unity. This one simple verse values love and discipleship, linking them together. The ultimate “all will know” is that all will know Yeshua.
Our link to Yeshua is our love for one another. It is also our link to the ubiquitous “all.” The whole would will know the Lord through our love for one another. Sadly, this is not the history of the people of God. Our testimony is frequently filled with division, back biting and discord. Who would want to join into that?
Loving one another doesn’t mean never having disagreements, it means working through them. We don’t even know if we love someone until that love is put to the test. When we survive, our love is strengthened. Let’s all call on the power of God to love one another with a perfect love.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep your love for one another constant, for “love covers a multitude of sins.”
Week 9
Memory Verse: Exodus 33:16 For how would it be known that I or your people have found favor in Your sight? Isn’t it because You go with us, that distinguishes us from all the people on the face of the earth?”
* 41 2/24 Monday: Exodus 32-33
42 2/25 Tuesday: Exodus 34-36:1
43 2/26 Wednesday: Exodus 40
44 2/27 Thursday: Leviticus 8-9
45 2/28 Friday: Exodus 16-17
Question of the day: The “golden calf” incident takes place in Exodus 32. That was a horrible rejection of God by the people who had seen more miracles than any people before or since. Moses appears to talk God out of His wrath for the children of Israel. Then, in chapter 33, what does Moses do that raises the bar on “Chutzpah?”
Answer: Well, maybe we should start with a definition of Chutzpah. It is unmitigated gall. Moses presses God with these words… Exodus 33:13b “…show me Your ways…” God responds with these words… Exodus 33:14a “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
God’s presence in Hebrew is His “panay.” This is plural for face. The point is simple and I’ll wrap up with this… God is so powerful, He doesn’t have to actually do anything to show His power. His gaze (in your direction) is enough to comfort, heal, or preform any other act of restoration.
In fact, when God promises “rest,” the Hebrew word is connected to Naoh’s name, (Noach) meaning comfort. This is the Shabbat existence. When we rest in Him, He works for us. So we close with these Scriptures…
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ‘you will find rest for your souls.’ 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”